- Negotiations
The European Union and India launched negotiations on a bilateral free trade and investment agreement in June 2007. However, between the governments, a number of controversies have been plaguing the talks. Delhi wants Brussels to relax its stringent food safety criteria which penalise Indian farm and fishery exports and to make it easier for Indian professionals to work in the EU. Europe is primarily out to win major openings of India’s services sector and broad liberalisation of foreign investment, while India does not want to discuss allowing European firms to compete in India’s government procurement market.
Indian social movements, including fisherfolk and labour unions, people living with HIV/AIDS and other health activists have been mobilizing against the FTA. International actions and campaigns have particularly targeted the proposed intellectual property provisions of the agreement, and the impact of the FTA on access to medicines.
last update: May 2012
Photo: MSF
28-Jun-2011
The India government is planning Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with European countries. However, Indian industry is anxious as Europeans are sensitive to issues which are considered extraneous to trade in this part of the world.
26-Jun-2011
Amid speculations of India giving in to EU’s demand on lowering duty on imported cars in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), the auto industry has cautioned that if such a concession was granted, future investments in the sector in the country will be hit.
26-Jun-2011
To protect farmers’ interests, India has made it clear to EU that duty-free imports of wheat, barley, lemons, apples, pears and meslin flour will not be allowed under the proposed free trade agreement.
23-Jun-2011
MSF
India formally announced at the UN High
Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS that it will not accept data exclusivity, a
provision harmful to access to affordable medicines, as part of a free trade
agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union.
21-Jun-2011
The world’s largest carmaker, Toyota, has said it would be unfair to Japanese carmakers in India, who have invested more and for a longer time, if Europe-made cars get import-duty incentives under the Indo -European Union Free Trade Agreement.
20-Jun-2011
Although the resolution has compelled India to resume talks with Pakistan, it is not clear whether and how the outcome of these talks will affect the conclusion of the FTA. It is also uncertain whether or not the condition to settle the Kashmir issue with dialogue will be included in the final draft of the EU-India FTA, writes Ahmad Ali Ghouri
20-Jun-2011
CIPRA
The proposed FTA is going to have a far reaching consequence for both the Indian state as well as for the lives and livelihood of Indian masses.
15-Jun-2011
The European Parliament has passed a resolution linking a Free Trade Agreement with India to an improvement in its human rights records, and to greater democracy.
14-Jun-2011
The Nation
In a significant development, the European Parliament has linked the Kashmir dispute with the signing of the EU’s proposed Free Trade Agreement with India.
6-Jun-2011
The European Union has sought concessions for its banks if they are asked to migrate to the wholly-owned subsidiary model proposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
